Theater Thursday: Carnal Knowledge

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In January 1972, sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Broad Avenue Cinema in Albany, Georgia and seized Mike Nichols’ Carnal Knowledge, charging that the film violated local obscenity laws.  Within weeks, the theater’s owner was convicted of “distributing obscene material,” fined $750 and was sentenced to twelve months probation.  Although Carnal Knowledge had been hailed as an artistic triumph by critics and audiences alike, its frank, unflinching look at sex and relationships had sparked a national debate that would end in the chambers of the U.S. … Continue reading →

Theater Thursday 05/21/08: Swept Away

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I have not seen too many foreign films that I would recommend, but I did really enjoy this one. This is an Italian film with subtitles, and I normally don’t like films with subtitles, but the story and the acting were so good, that I decided to give the film a chance.. It was written and directed by Lina Wertmuller in 1974. This is the original version of the movie from Italy, not the lousy remake Madonna was in. She can sing, but she can … Continue reading →

Theater Thursday: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

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A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is a novel by BettySmith first published in 1943. It relates the coming-of-age story of its main character, Francie Nolan, and her Irish-American family struggling against poverty in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City. The novel is set in the first and second decades of the 20th century. The book was an immense success, a nationwide best-seller that was distributed to servicemen overseas. It was also adapted into a popular motion picture, the first feature film directed by Elia Kazan,  starring … Continue reading →

Collected Stories by Donald Margulies

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A respected short story writer and teacher in her mid-fifties, Ruth Steiner (Linda Lavin), has carved out a comfortable life for herself in a Greenwich Village apartment she has occupied for decades. Lisa Morrison (Samantha Mathis), is a callow yet talented 26 year old graduate student and aspiring writer, a child of suburban privilege. Lisa Morrison arrives at Ruth’s apartment for her first tutorial as a gawky, gushing hero worshiper. When Ruth quips, “I had someone darker in mind,” she doesn’t realize the foreshadowing in … Continue reading →

Movie 08/22/08: Reefer Madness

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Does anyone remember this movie ? I saw it on a date and laughed my ass off ! I can’t believe this film was made in 1936 ! Reefer Madness (aka Tell Your Children) is a 1936 exploitation film revolving around the tragic events that ensue when high school  students are lured by pushers to try “marihuana“: a hit and run accident, manslaughter, suicide, rape, and descent into madness all ensue. The film was directed by Louis Gasnier and starred a cast composed of mostly … Continue reading →

Theater 09/04/08: The Paper Chase

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Does anyone remember this movie ? It was one of my favorites because John Houseman reminded me of so many of the arrogant teachers I had going to school. The Paper Chase is a 1973 film starring Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, and John Houseman and directed by James Bridges. Based on John Jay Osborn, Jr.’s 1970 novel, The Paper Chase, the film tells the story of Hart, a first-year law student at Harvard Law School, and his experiences with Professor Charles Kingsfield (played by John … Continue reading →

Cadillac Records

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Cadillac Records is an upcoming biographical film and a musical drama written and directed by film directorDarnell Martin. Exploring the 1950s musical era, the film chronicles the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and the singers who recorded for Chess Records. The film stars American actors Adrien Brody as Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, and Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James. The film has been rated … Continue reading →

Movie: Glengarry GlenRoss

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This film has an all-star cast that you don’t see everyday: Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, Ed harris, Alan Arkin, and Jack Lemmon, create a unique drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Glengarry GlenRoss is a 1992 independent film, based on the acclaimed 1984 Pulizer Prize and Tony winning play of the same name by David Mamet, who adapted it into a screenplay for the film. The title refers to Glengarry Highlands and Glenross Farms, two properties represented in … Continue reading →

The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman

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Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is a 1958Americanscience fictionfeature film produced by Bernard Woolner for Allied Artists Pictures. It was directed by Nathan H. Juran (credited as Nathan Hertz) from a screenplay by Mark Hanna, and starred Allison Hayes, William Hudson and Yvette Vickers. The original music score was composed by Ronald Stein. The film was a take on other movies that had also featured size-changing humans, namely The Amazing Colossal Man and The Incredible Shrinking Man, but substituting a woman as the protagonist. … Continue reading →